DBG Weekend Spotlight (7-22-16)

In the 2014 G3 Conference, Voddie Baucham preached on the subject, “Faithful Men Disciple and Send Faithful Men” from 2 Timothy 2. You will enjoy this needful message. We also would like to invite you to the 2017 G3 Conference – details and reservations.

Why Does Sola Scriptura Still Matter? – John MacArthur writes, “The principle of sola Scriptura (Scripture alone) was the Reformers’ way of acknowledging that the unstoppable power behind the explosive advance of religious reform was the Spirit-empowered Word of God.”

Should Your Church Build a Bigger Building? – Jonathan Leeman answers a question that was submitted to 9Marks, and if you’re struggling with what direction to move as you stand at the crossroads of multi-site vs. larger building, you need to read his answer.

What Is Patience? – R.C. Sproul explains, “Waiting for God is at the heart of living by faith. The Christian does not share the cynical skepticism dramatized by the theatrical production “Waiting for Godot.” The end of Christian hope is never shame or embarrassment, because we have a hope that is a sure anchor for our souls.”

Theology Word of the Week: Gospel

Gospel: The NT use of Gk. euangelion, ‘joyful tidings’, ‘good news’, has an OT background in Is. 40–66, where the lxx verb euangelizomai, ‘bring good news’, is used of the declaration of Jerusalem’s deliverance from bondage (Is. 40:9; 52:7) and also of a wider announcement of liberation for the oppressed (Is. 61:1, 2). This last passage provided the text of Jesus’ inaugural preaching at Nazareth: he gave notice that it had been fulfilled as he spoke (Lk. 4:17–21). Jesus’ message was otherwise described as the gospel of the kingdom of God. Its contents are set out in his parables, where the Father’s loving bestowal of mercy and free forgiveness on the undeserving and the outcasts is presented with vividness and warmth.

With Jesus’ death and resurrection a new phase of the gospel begins. The preacher becomes the preached one: his followers, whom he commissioned to preach the gospel after his departure, proclaimed him as the one in whom the Father’s pardoning grace had drawn near. ‘The gospel of God … concerning his Son’ (Rom. 1:1–3) tells how, in the coming and redemptive work of Christ, God has fulfilled his ancient promise of blessing for all nations.

For the first generation after Christ’s ascension the gospel was exclusively a spoken message; the earliest written record of the gospel appeared in the 60s.

Only one saving message is attested by the NT. The ‘gospel to the circumcision’ preached by Peter and his colleagues did not differ in content from the ‘gospel to the uncircumcised’ entrusted to Paul (Gal. 2:7), though the form of presentation might vary according to the audience. Paul’s testimony is, ‘Whether therefore it was I or they [Peter and his colleagues], so we preach, and so you believed’ (1 Cor. 15:11).

The basic elements in the message were these: 1. the prophecies have been fulfilled and the new age inaugurated by the coming of Christ; 2. he was born into the family of David; 3. he died according to the Scriptures, to deliver his people from this evil age; 4. he was buried, and raised again the third day, according to the Scriptures; 5. he is exalted at God’s right hand as Son of God, Lord of living and dead; 6. he will come again to judge the world and consummate his saving work. [1]

A Word About DBG

Delivered By Grace is a theology blog that focuses on theology, SBC, preaching, the church, and many issues within the Christian life. Delivered By Grace is edited by Josh Buice and contributed to by various other preachers and writers. Unless otherwise noted, articles are written by Josh Buice.

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